News

Once homeless, D.C. teacher overcomes odds and wins Teacher of the Year award

Lakeisha Brown has overcome many obstacles in life. This year, she was recognized as the D.C. Public Schools Teacher of the Year.”A girl from a small town who had a really rough upbringing could possibly win too. I didn’t count myself out,” Brown said. “It’s a moment that I will never forget.”Brown has been teaching at Lafayette Elementary School in Northwest D.C. for the last four years.Getting to this point wasn’t always easy for Brown.

“I told myself I want to be a teacher that counts every child, who thinks that everyone can make it,” Brown said.

That became her mindset after experiencing firsthand what it’s like to be judged by her own teachers when she was growing up. “They counted me out,” Brown said. “They didn’t put a lot of focus on African Americans, and that we could go to college or push us to take AP classes.”But it wasn’t just that.

“I grew up in a household where my mom was dying of AIDS,” she said. “People who were your friends were no longer allowed to be your friends and we became that family. I was teased, and I was bullied, and I struggled.”

She was taking care of her dying mother at age 9 and felt like an outsider at school.”Being up the night before and taking care of a sick parent. My teachers were always mad that I was late. They didn’t take the time to give me a moment,” Brown said. “My number one goal is my kids know before we even start our day that they can get a hug first. If they are late, I’m not going to rush them in. I’m going to embrace them because you never know what happened before they got there.”

It’s because of that, she decided to use these moments to create a welcoming classroom.Her style of teaching, however, is anything but traditional.”My students do the teaching rather than me doing it. You will see them leading the classroom, asking questions to each other,” Brown says. “Some of the children who are shy and reserved don’t have their voices heard. So I started selecting them just to make sure that they are also coming out of their shell as well.”When school begins, it’s easy to see just how much her young students love her.”Good morning Miss Brown,” one student says.

“Miss Brown, I lost my tooth this morning!” says another.Inside Brown’s candy-land themed classroom, students anxiously run to the carpet where they begin their morning meeting.The class includes a weather report from students, reading and even dancing. Brown puts on music and her students expel energy.”I allow the classroom to flow in the eyes of my student and now in my adult eyes,” she said. “They have so much energy and talent.”Her students, in turn, also enjoy school with their teacher.

“I like coming in to see Ms. Brown,” said Emily, one of her students. “She lets us have fun, but she keeps us getting our brains smarter.”

Related Posts

Strongman filmed lifting a Ford Transit van and pulled tractor with his bare hands while claiming car crash had left him unable to carry shopping bags in ‘blatantly dishonest’ insurance claim

When champion strongman Scott Maw was hurt in a car crash, he told his GP he struggled carrying shopping bags. As he claimed for a whiplash-style shoulder injury, he failed, however, to mention he was still a dab hand at lifting logs, concrete balls and even a Transit van. The decision to seek compensation for his accident injuries, in what solicitors said was a ‘blatantly dishonest’ insurance claim against the other driver, has left him £25,000 out-of-pocket.

Who are Donald Trump’s cabinet picks? Meet the confidantes and advisers heading to the White House

Donald Trump’s second term as president will largely be shaped by the loyal allies who have stood by him during his four years outside of the White House. As the clock ticks down to his inauguration on January 20, all eyes will be on Mar-a-Lago as Republicans jostle for a cabinet spot or a senior role in the West Wing. And those are filling fast. In the past two-plus days, nine potential appointees have emerged for top Cabinet or West Wing roles and a handful of contenders for other vital positions have emerged.

Nearly 15,000 people object to ‘outrageous’ plans for Norfolk ‘mega-farm’ housing 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs

Controversial plans to build a megafarm with up to 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs between two villages have attracted nearly 15,000 complaints. Cranswick, the food giant behind the plans, says the two sites will be set 400 yards apart and operate separately to act as a ‘bio-precaution’. But locals fear the giant facility will belch out foul odours including ammonia fumes, attract swarms of flies and result in thousands of lorries driving past homes.

Anthony Albanese is urged to fire Kevin Rudd NOW – as yet another nasty comment about Trump emerges: ‘He is an embarrassment’

Resurfaced footage showing Kevin Rudd calling Donald Trump a ‘village idiot’ and ‘incoherent’ has reignited calls for his removal as Australia’s ambassador to the United States. The footage, aired by Sky News’ Sharri Markson on Monday night, captured Rudd speaking in a 2021 webinar with Indian politician and former diplomat Dr Shashi Tharoor. ‘The United States, in the past four years, has been run by a village idiot,’ Mr Rudd said.

Why New Zealand is furious after Australia makes huge change that will impact thousands

New Zealand’s deputy prime minister has taken aim at Australia for deporting Kiwi criminals back to his country while Aussies remain locked up in NZ. Winston Peters, who is also foreign minister, urged the Albanese government to ‘show a bit of gratitude’ towards Kiwis. ‘Ned Kelly should show a bit of humility on this matter and don’t come the raw prawn with us, to use an Aussie expression,’ he said.

One of the founders of world’s oldest Breastfeeding support charity QUITS in protest at inclusion of transgender women – and says organisation has ‘become a travesty of my original intent’

One of the founders of the world’s oldest breastfeeding support charity has quit in protest at its inclusion of transgender women. Marian Tompson denounced La Leche League International as an ‘organisation that has become a travesty of my original intent’. In a damning resignation letter from the board of directors, the 94-year-old condemned the group’s shift from focusing on mothering to ‘indulging the fantasies of adults’.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *